-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! <A HREF="http://www.ashevilletribune.com/farmers_fight.htm">Farmers Fight</A> http://www.ashevilletribune.com/farmers_fight.htm FARMERS FIGHT 50,000 ACRE FEDERAL LAND GRAB 12 year old testifies before Senate; tries to save her family's home By Matthew Mittan, The Asheville Tribune The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has announced it's desire to create a fifty-three thousand acre wildlife refuge, much to the chagrin of local residents. Federal officials have targeted, for their refuge, some of the best farmland in the United States, land that has been farmed by some of the same families for two hundred years. Residents opposed to the federal land designation say that the proposed refuge would dispossess hundreds of families and transform a productive agricultural economy into a non-productive service economy. The people of Madison and Union counties in Ohio are overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal. But that has not slowed the federal agencies from pursuing the land. Due to that fact, two local grassroots groups, Stewards of the Darby (SOD) and Citizens Against Refuge Proposal (CARP) are at the forefront of the land rights battle. Through these groups, local residents drafted a Declaration entitled "Our Land Is Our Responsibility" which reads in part, "We, the residents of the area publicized as the "Darby Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Study Area" want our voices heard! We, who live and work in this farming community, believe the impact to area businesses would jeopardize their very existence. The Madison County Auditor's Office projects the affected region generates $300 per acre, which turns over 6-7 times (in buying power) before leaving the community. This translates into a potential deficit of $90 million dollars to our area businesses. "[Additionally,] United States Representative Ralph S. Regula asserts: 'It is simply irresponsible to take on new land responsibilities, and give grants to cities, States and private institutions, when we cannot afford to adequately take care of our primary Federal responsibilities - the public lands.' "The State Forest Department manages and protects 7.1 million acres of forest land in Ohio, for the benefit of all Ohio citizens. One hundred eighty one thousand acres of State-owned forest land are available for multiple benefits, including wildlife, recreation, timber products, and soil and water protection. In addition, there are 72 State Parks in Ohio where the public can interact with nature at its leisure. With this great abundance of parks and wildlife areas, all supported by our tax dollars, is there really a need for more public land? "Actual area land auctions show that a 500-acre farm is worth $1.5 million dollars. To this initial cost, add a reasonably priced home at a cost of $85,000, and minimal equipment at approximately $641,000, and the combined start-up cost totals $2.226 MILLION DOLLARS. After committing to an investment of such magnitude, why would our astute, agriculturally- and family-minded farmers want to sell? "In the case of the proposed Darby Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, most of the 53,692 acres is land that has been acquired by our farmers over many generations. This "ownership endurance" enables us to continue our conservation-accredited farming skills, thus growing with our investments. At an average of 4.5 persons per home, this equates to the possible residential displacement of over 7,500 people from the Study Area alone, with a loss of approximately 4,000 taxpayers to the community. We have a proven track record of providing Americans with a diversity of products in the global marketplace, with a combination of wheat, corn, and soybeans; there would be a loss of over 3 million bushels of grain from the Study Area! "With well over 50,000 acres lost to food production, how many non-farmers would be willing to relinquish their combined homes and yards to replace the fertile soil that presently feeds so many, that would be permanently lost by the introduction of a National Wildlife Refuge? At some point, we will no longer have the abundance of high-quality, reasonably priced food that we now take for granted at our supermarkets. "The growing of food to nourish our citizens is certainly as much a consideration as re-establishing a tall grass prairie. Eating is not going to go out of style, and we are not willingly going to yield our bountiful land to either developers or Federal Agencies who say they are 'protecting us' from development. "Those of us who have been entrusted with the privilege of caring for the land, know well the proper care and nurturing required to maintain, protect and preserve our farmlands, and sustain a well-established wildlife habitat through conservation management. With an eye to the future, and the experience of almost two hundred years, we know that Our Land Is Our Responsibility!" In response to the public outcry, two bills have been introduced in the Ohio Legislature, HCR 44 (Rep Jim Buchy) and SCR 28 (Sen. Merle Grace Kearns). Both bills seek to block the federal effort. "We are trying to send a message to the federal government that we do not want this in our state," said Julie Smithson, a career truck driver who has been closely involved with the debate. Advocates for the protection of private property in Ohio hope that their struggle for the control of their land is not lost on the ears of citizens in other areas across the nation. "We hope that other States can take up the issue and join the bandwagon." This fight has involved more than just the adults in the area. Sheena Pennell, a 12 year old student, recently won an international essay contest, sponsored by Walt Disney and McDonalds, for her writings on the Darby Refuge controversy. Sheena believes that the local residents are doing just fine taking care of the land and that the Fish and Wildlife Department doesn't need to be telling farmers how best to manage their properties. Sheena's mother Marlyne spoke to the Tribune while Sheena was at school Tuesday. She stated that Sheena has always been an independent thinker and that her daughter became very interested in the Darby dispute, researching numerous documents and asking to attend several local town hall type meetings. "She's been a 4-H'er since she was 5 years old, you learn to respect the land." During the course of her inquiries, Sheena learned of numerous facts that caused her skepticism of the FWA initiative. "Several farmers in the area have received awards from the Fish and Wildlife Service for outstanding environmental standards," Mrs. Pennell stated. That didn't seem to gel with the position that the FWA was coming in to "protect the land", Pennell asserted. The Pennell family home is located on five acres that they have owned for nearly a decade. They say they chose the area to raise their family because of its small town, friendly appeal. They enjoy the traditional farming community life. However, that could soon change due to the fact that their land is within the proposed Wildlife Refuge area. That situation, and young Sheena's essay, landed the family a seat in front of a Senate Committee looking into the Darby conflict last week. "She was a little nervous at first, but I think she feels like she's helping to make a difference," her mother told the Tribune. "She got to see [Senators] hearing her opinions." A second round of State Senate hearings has been scheduled for mid-March. On the Federal level, written testimony was presented to the U.S. House Resources Committee recently. The testimony read as follows: "Our area is under threat of being declared a National Wildlife Refuge by the actions of corrupt officials of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, acting in collusion with The Nature Conservancy, which is attempting to impose one of its restrictive 'Bioreserve' projects on our farming community. "The Columbus Foundation and Affiliated Organizations, a consortium of urban foundations unconcerned about rural economies and the property rights of farmers, gave The Nature Conservancy a grant of $25,000 in 1996 'For Darby Bioreserve Project, including hiring RiverKeeper to promote citizen-based protection of Big and Little Darby Creeks.' "Despite massive opposition to the Project by our local citizens, the USFWS continues to act under the influence of The Nature Conservancy and their funders, the Columbus Foundation consortium, to cripple our farm community. "We request that Congress fully investigate this foundation-funded attempt to destroy the economy of our local farm community." The House Resources Committee is Chaired by Rep. Don Young (R, Alaska). No action had been taken on the Darby Wildlife Refuge designation as of press time. For more information contact: Stewards of the Darby at 740-857-1239 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 202-208-5403. The U.S. House Resources Committee can be reached by calling 202-225-2761. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rockefeller funding and direct participation in The Nature Conservancy is of many years duration. They are definitely the American head of the NWO snake. Lynell "Lieutenant Governor Rockefeller has a fine record of public service, going back 25 years or more. His involvements include such things as Boy Scouts of America, serving as President of the Quapaw Area Council, the Nature Conservancy, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, the Arkansas Arts Center foundation and areas related to Juvenile Justice advisory group, and was a board member of the Arkansas Crime Commission." <SNIP!> <A HREF="http://www.state.ar.us/ltgov/">http://www.state.ar.us/ltgov/</A> http://www.state.ar.us/ltgov/ <A HREF="http://www.radioliberty.com/kjos3.htm">Saving the Earth</A> http://www.radioliberty.com/kjos3.htm <A HREF="http://militia.gen.mi.us/bda.html">http://militia.gen.mi.us/bda.html </A> Battle for Sustainable Freedom http://militia.gen.mi.us/bda.html <A HREF="http://www.thewinds.org/archive/newworld/landgrab7-97.html">WINDS - Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites</A> http://www.thewinds.org/archive/newworld/landgrab7-97.html <A HREF="http://www.cnie.org/nle/inter-1.html">World Heritage Convention and U.S. National Parks</A> http://www.cnie.org/nle/inter-1.html <A HREF="http://www.libertymatters.org/AHRI2.html">AHRI2</A> http://www.libertymatters.org/AHRI2.html <A HREF="http://www.shire.net/big.brother/bio1.htm">Challenging 'Biosphere Reserves'</A> http://www.shire.net/big.brother/bio1.htm **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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